Richard Pryor
Money owed: unknown
Prison sentence: 10 days
6 of 10
If there’s any lesson in the late, great comedian Richard Pryor’s experience with the strong arm of the IRS, it’s that honesty is definitely the best policy. In 1974, Pryor, hot off the release of his breakthrough comedy album (title unprintable) stood in a L.A. courtroom charged with tax evasion. Rather than an elaborate defense, Pryor simply told the judge; “I forgot.” He served just ten days.
Photo: Wattstax